‘You’re a true inspiration’: Chief Rabbi praises volunteers as Mitzvah Day marks 20 years

Speaking to the JC, Rabbi Mirvis said: “We have a responsibility to every human being created in the image of Hashem, so it is only natural that Mitzvah Day involves interaction with other faiths, which brings an enormous amount of gratification.”

After being taken to meet guests, volunteers and leaders of the asylum drop-in centre, which is run monthly by US Chesed, the Chief Rabbi said: “It is wonderful to see our Torah values being displayed in this marvellous way.”

The powerful and poignant Mitzvah Day collection at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation (Photo:Tony Knox)[Missing Credit]

At Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in Manchester, which had been the target of a terrorist attack on Yom Kippur, volunteers joined a Mitzvah Day activity. Marc Levy, CEO of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester & Region, said: “It is poignant that a mere few weeks after the terrorist attack … members hosted a Mitzvah Day event, collecting supplies for families outside of the Jewish community who are vulnerable and in need.”

To mark the 20th anniversary, more than 5,000 portions of soup were delivered to those in need for the Mitzvah Day Big Soup Serve.

The Prime Minister was among those taking part, inviting Mitzvah Day founder Laura Marks CBE and a group of young professionals of different faiths to cook a hearty vegetable soup at 10 Downing Street, which was then donated to The Passage, a charity supporting homeless people.

He said: "I’m proud to have supported Mitzvah Day since it started 20 years ago. It is a wonderful example of communities uniting around the common good.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer joins Mitzvah Day cooking at 10 Downing Street. (Photo: Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street)Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street

At Alyth synagogue, Progressive Judaism co-lead Rabbi Josh Levy, Barnet Mayor Rabbi Danny Rich and Rabbi Hannah Kingston hosted the Bishop of Edmonton Rt Revd Dr Jeremiah Anderson, Muslim leader Ahmereen Reza OBE and members of the Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths, who cooked for the synagogue’s refugee drop-in and homeless support projects.

Rabbi Josh Levy said: “Mitzvah Day is a hugely important part of our annual Jewish calendar, giving Jews the opportunity to step into social action and social justice work and also creating connections between Jews and non-Jews, so we can stand side by side in trying to make the world a better place.”

Rabbi Charley Baginsky, co-lead of Progressive Judaism, took part in a Mitzvah Day project held at the movement's Northern Chagigah (festival) event over the weekend.

Rabbi Charley Baginsky at Progressive Judaism's Northern Chagigah (Photo: Simon Marcus)[Missing Credit]

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan joined members of City Hall’s Jewish, Muslim and Christian staff networks to pack kosher recipe kits, while prominent faith leaders taking part included Imam Asim Hafiz OBE and Bishop Mike Royal, the general secretary of Churches Together in England.

Project ImpACT’s Soup-a-thon at JW3 saw more than 150 ImpACT Youth Kitchen teens from 30 different schools making soup, using surplus ingredients from Felix Project, guided by top Jewish chef Adam Nathan. The young people were joined by Mayor of Camden Cllr Eddie Hanson and Mayor of Brent Cllr Ryan Hack.

Project ImpACT Mitzvah Day volunteers with Mayor of Brent, Councillor Ryan Hack (third from left), Mayor of Camden, Councillor Eddie Hanson (fourth from left), chef Adam Nathan (fourth from right) and Laura Marks (third from right) (Photo: Project ImpACT)[Missing Credit]

Since its launch, Mitzvah Day has grown into a global event, with an estimated 15,000 volunteers taking part in events overseas this year, including Big Soup Serves being held as far afield as Sydney and Cape Town.

Looking back over the day and the last 20 years, Mitzvah Day founder and chair Laura Marks CBE said: “We know Jewish communities support local charities day in and day out. But what we saw this week on Mitzvah Day raised the bar, engaged new people and causes, strengthened essential bridges between communities and maybe most importantly, felt great. I’m endlessly astonished by what our community can do and how much kindness there is in even such a difficult world.”